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AYO volunteers sitting outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner Kohima on Tuesday.[/caption]
Kohima, Jan. 3: In support of the Angami Public Organisation’s call for of elections to urban local bodies with 33% women reservation in its present form, the Angami Youth Organisation (AYO) picketed the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Kohima today.
Hundreds of AYO volunteers assembled outside the DC office premises to show their resentment against the State government for turning a deaf ear on the issue concerning the 33% women reservation.
The volunteers, led by APO and AYO leaders, sat at various locations from Y junction, Phool Bari to DC office, to prevent candidates from filing their nomination papers before an amicable understanding is reached between the state government and the Angami Public Organisation and various other tribe hohos.
Talking to Eastern Mirror, APO and AYO leaders reiterated that they will continue to enforce the boycott for elections to the ULBs until an amicable solution to the ongoing imbroglio is reached.
“The AYO stands in solidarity with the APO and the rest of the Naga community in every district against the infringement of our customary laws and Article 371(A) of the Indian constitution,” said an AYO release issued to the press adding that “it will stand in total support of the APO on this issue.”
AYO also cautioned that stern and befitting action, as per Angami customary law, would be taken against its members who violate the boycott call given by APO, the apex Angami organisation.
On the day, a group of Angami leaders, led by APO president Dr Vilhusa Seleyi also met the DC Kohima on the invitation of the latter.
During the meeting, the APO leaders reminded the deputy commissioner that their protest was solely against the government’s decision on 33% women reservation.
“Though over hundreds of AYO volunteers have responded to our call, we are not here to create a situation, but to show our resentment against the government for its hasty move in conducting the elections to the ULBs sticking to the 33% women reservation,” the APO president said.
APO vice president KT Vilie told the DC that the volunteers would not interrupt the functioning of the DC office in any manner. To this, he also expressed hope that the district administration and police would not resort to any untoward act against the peaceful protesters.
“In any case, if there is direction from the higher authority, we are ready to meet them and discuss on the issue,” he said expressing hope that the government would create space for the public to share their opinion on any issue.
Kohima Village Council chairman Medoselhou Keretsü expressed hope that both the parties (Naga civil societies and government) would cooperate with one another to arrive at a decision on this issue.
“33% women reservation is not a customary law of the Nagas. It is hasty on the part of the government to immediately push for it without having a proper consultation with the Naga public,” Keretsü said.
“Though the legislators are okay with the 33% women reservation to the elections of the ULBs, the public is not. And it is their responsibility to consult the public,” NAPO vice president Vilieo Rutsa said adding that the Nagas can come to an understanding on said issue.
DC Kohima requested the APO and AYO leaders to let their volunteers clear the road to allow the candidates to file their nomination papers without any obstruction.
He made his stand clear that the district administration would stick to the direction given by the government. “It is our duty to give sufficient and adequate security to the candidates who comes to file their nomination papers,” he said adding that the district DC and SP cannot compromise at their level.
Filing of nomination papers to the elections for ULBs began today and will end on January 7. ADC Kohima and Returning Officer for the ULB elections Lithrongla Tongpi informed that no candidates have filed their nomination papers today.
For the 19 wards under Kohima, sources informed that 26 nomination papers were given out on Tuesday alone. For the six reserved seats for women, seven female candidates were reported to have collected the nomination papers.
The Naga People's Front (NPF) has issued tickets to intending candidates for all the 19 wards falling under the Kohima Municipal Council (KMC). This was confirmed by party workers, however, the list of candidates could not be availed. A party official, when contacted, said the list containing the names of intending candidates will be made public on Wednesday.
Sources said the state BJP has also started issuing tickets to intending candidates, however party officials could not be contacted for confirmation.
In Dimapur, no nominations were filed on the opening day of the 5-day period for filing of nomination papers to the Dimapur municipal elections. As of Tuesday, no organisation had called for boycott of said elections in Dimapur.
However, according to Elizabeth Ngully, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur, 86 intending candidates under DMC had collected nomination forms on Tuesday. Out of the 86, 29 were female candidates and the remaining 57, male.
The Dimapur Municipal Council has the highest number of wards as well as polling stations in the state. The ADC said that all security arrangements have been made and training of poll officers would be conducted next week.
The office of the DC would remain open for filing of nominations from 11 am to 3 pm from January 3 to January 7, informed Ngully.
Scrutiny of nomination papers would be conducted on January 10 at the DC’s office from 10.30 am to 3.30 pm.
[caption id="attachment_91243" align="alignnone" width="560"] [/caption]
No intending candidates turned up at Mokokchung to file nomination papers even as the Ao Senden spearheaded a picket outside the office of the deputy commissioner of Mokokchung today.
The Ao Senden leaders were joined by Ward authorities and volunteers from three ‘landowner-villages’ of Ungma, Khensa and Mokokchung village. The Ao Senden reiterated its call for boycott of the municipal elections and warned that any Ao citizen contesting in said elections would be expelled from the community.